Girdle



Nov. 27, 1962 M. c. FRIDOLPH 3,065,754

GIRDLE Original Filed June 4, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J4 BY 6'6 am, .7? 1 KM Nov. 27, 1962 M. c. FRIDOLPH 3,055,754

GIRDLE Original Filed June 4, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

mayo: Coll STANCE f'R/D 04 PH ATTOAIVA'VS 3,%5,75d Fatented Nov. 27, lifidz fire 3,065,754 GIRDLE Maude Constance Fridolph, 269 Crescent Bay Drive, Laguna Beach, Calif. Continuation of application Ser. No. 73'9,73, June 4, 195$. This application May 8, 1961, $91. No. 198,372 13 Claims. (Cl. 128-548) This invention relates to a body garment and more particularly to a body garment commonly called a girdle.

In order to give a smooth line across the abdomen and to control firmly the thigh and the buttock muscles, a girdle must fit the wearer relatively snug throughout. A firm support and snug tension can be and is main tained in such garments from the waistline down to the hips or approximately the line across the widest part of the hips without discomfort to the wearer, but the necessary tension that must be maintained below the hips restricts the free leg movement of the wearer. In my prior Patent No. 2,445,322, dated July 20, 1948, I have disclosed a girdle construction which furnishes the necessary snug fit and firm support and is fashioned with overlapping front panels which, in effect, increases the circumferential dimension of the girdle at its front lower edge without relaxing the support or molding qualities of the girdle. The girdle of my prior patent also provides a firm support for the buttocks and a cradlelike support for the abdomen with a comfortable lift to the pelvic organs. The type of support provided by the girdle of my prior patent was achieved primarily by the provision of overlapping front panels having upwardly inclined lower edges.

The girdle of the present invention is a further advance in this art in that it is fashioned to provide a firm support for each buttock with a comfortable lift to the pelvic organs in the front while at the same time elimimating the restriction around the lower rear edge of the girdle, which restriction is invariably present in girdles of conventional construction.

More specifically, the girdle of the present invention is designed so that its lower edges follow the natural line of the gluteal muscles around the thighs and across the buttocks of the wearer. By designing the girdle so that its lower edges follow the natural line of the gluteal muscles, the girdle can control the thigh line at a lower point than prior art girdles because across the front and across the back, these lower edges incline upwardly to follow the muscle line and thereby provide freedom of movement.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a torso showing the muscles controlled by the girdle of the present construction.

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the torso shown in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front view of a girdle constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the girdle shown in FIGURE 3 in the position it assumes on the wearers body.

FIGURE 5 shows a further modified girdle construction of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 wherein a portion of a human torso is generally il ustrated, the thigh and buttock muscles in this region of the body are controlled by the girdle of this invention to provide a snug fit with a comfortable uplift action and without circumferential restriction. In the torso, the gluteus maximus muscles which are designated Id extend from a generally central location 12 well down on the thigh and substantially below the hipline upwardly across the buttocks i4 at the back. The gluteus muscles 16 extend from approximately the waistline at each side down along the hips where they merge with the tensor muscles 18 and the iliotibial band 23'. I have determined that if a girdle is designed to follow the contour of these muscles, and particularly the gluteus maximus muscles 10, a very firm and comfortable support is provided for the wearer without any restrictive effect. Thus, the girdle of my construction is shown in broken lines in FIGURES 1 and 2 to illustrate generally the outline thereof in relation to the contour of these muscles. The lower edges of the girdle of my construction extend upwardly from a low point 22 at each side of the wearer adjacent the lower end of the muscles it upwardly beneath the buttocks as at 24 to a point adjacent 26 at the center back of the wearer just below the buttocks of the wearer. These lower edges of the girdle on the front side thereof extend upwardly and around the thighs along a line 23 which terminates relatively adjacent the pubic region.

In FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 are illustrated several embodiments of girdles of the present invention which are constructed to support the wearer in the region of the thighs and buttocks in accordance with the broken line showing in FIGURES l and 2.

The girdle shown in FIGURES 3 and 4- comprises two front panels 30 and 32 and two rear panels 34 and 36. The outer side edges of these panels are preferably secured together as by stitching at 37 so as to define side contours 38 which approximate the hipline of the wearer. It will be observed that these side edges curve inwardly adjacent the lower portions of the panels as at 40 so that the opening defined by the lower end of the girdle is of smaller cross section than the cross section of the girdle at the hipline of the wearer. These panels are dimensioned such that when on the wearer, the lower outer corner portions 42 are located adjacent the lower end portions 12 of the gluteus maximus muscles it The lower edges 44 of rear panels 34 and 3s incline upwardly so as to follow the line 24 which conforms generally to the lowermost portions of the gluteus muscles 10 around the buttocks.

The lower edges as of front panels 3i) and 32 also incline upwardly from the corner portions $22 so that they intersect as at 47 adjacent the pubic region. The edges 46 terminate at the points x and y which correspond approximately to the trochanters of the femur bones. Front panels 59 and 32 are stitched together in overlapping relation along the edges 43 and rear panels 34- and 36 are stitched together in overlapping relation along the edges 59. The lower edges of panels 34 and 36, it will be observed, intersect at 52 which corresponds to the high point 26 which lies just below the lines of the gluteus maximus muscles at the center back of the wearer, that is, just underneath the buttocks. In this form of construction, the overlapping portions of the panels are unconnected except along their edges 43 and Etl.

In the girdle shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, all of the panels are formed of rubber or from a woven elastic material; that is, a material having rubber strands woven into it. These panels may be fashioned from two-way stretch material, but are preferably formed of one-way stretch material with the elasticity of the material running in a direction generally parallel to the lower edges of the anels as indicated by the arrows. The lower edges 34 and 46 are generally parallel with the weave lines of the material of the panels. if desired, garters may be attached to the lower edges of these panels as at E4 and 56.

When on the wearer, the girdle illustrated in FIGURE 3 provides the necessary tension around the thighs and the buttocks of the wearer without restriction. The lower edges 44 of the rear panels 34 and 36 extend upwardly 3 from a relatively low point at the center of each thigh upwardly aiong a line that generally follows the gluteal muscle upwardly beneath the buttocks to the high point 26. These upwardly inclined edges provide a comfortable it to the thighs and buttocks; and since the lower e of the girdle does not extend straight across the back of the wearer, there is no restriction of leg movement. These inclined edges 44 at the rear and the inclined edges 4-6 at the front of the girdle in effect increase the circumferential extent of the girdle at the lower end without sacrificing any support. This makes for comfort when the wearer is sitting down and permits complete freedom of the legs when walking.

The girdle illustrated in FEGURE 5 is generally similar to that illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 with the exception, however, that at each side of the girdle, there is inserted a fabric panel 58. The fabric inserts 53 are socured to the side edges of the front and rear panels of the girdle as at no and 62. The inserts can be made elastic or inelastic as desired, preferably elastic circumferentially and inelastic vertically. When the inserts 58 are inelastic in a direction circumferentially of the girdle, the amount of stretch in the girdle a a whole is reduced. This is desirable in some cases. However, the lower edges of the front and back panels of the girdle illustrated in FIGURE 5 inclined upwardly in the same manner and to the same extent as the lower edges 44 and 46 of the girdle illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. If desired, with the type of girdle shown in FIGURE 5, the front and rear overlapping panels of the girdle can be made of an inelastic material with the weave line being parallel with the lower edges of these panels as previously described and with the panels 53 at each side of the girdle being formed of a material which is elastic in a direction circumferentially of the girdle and inelastic vertically.

'In each of the girdles described above, the lower edges thereof incline upwardiy fro-m a low point at each side to a high point at the center front and center back. The low points at the side correspond generally to the location of the lower end portion 12 of the muscles 10, and the lower rear edges of the girdle incline upwardly along a line which generally conforms to the line of the muscles up across the buttocks 7 Thus, it will be seen that the gi dle of the present invention is designed so that at each side of the wearer, it extends downwardly to a point lower than conventional girdles; that is, it extends downwardly to a point below a maior portion of the gluteus maximus muscles and preferably to a location adjacent the lower end portions of these muscles. The extension of the girdle down to these low points coupled with the upward inclination of its lower edges assures supporting the leg, thigh and buttock muscles which have to be supported in order to provide the figure with the desired contour. However, in view of the fact that the lower edges of the girdle incline upwardly from each side to the center front and the center back, an uplift action is provided in the pelvic region anc to the buttocks which results in a comfortable feenng and which, at the same, results in complete freedom of leg movement.

By extending the lower side edges of the girdle downwardly to a point adjacent the lower end portions of the gluteus maximus muscles as at 12, while at the same time forming the rear portion of the girdle by a pair of overlapping cross panels the lower edges of which incline upwardly to follow the lower line of the buttock as at a the buttocks are afforded a maximum support with out restriction. This is clearly illustrated in FIG- URES i and 2 and by this construction each buttock is given an independent uplight action tending to retain it in its natural slaps. Because each buttock is independently supported in this hammock-like fashion, a maximum freedom of movement for the legs and thighs is afforded.

This application is a continuation of my copending A application Serial No. 739,739, filed June 4, 1958, now abandoned.

What I claim is:

1. A muscle conforming girdle comprising a body oncircling member including a pair of front panels and a pair of rear panels, said body encircling member extending from the waist downwardly at each side a distance at least substantially equal to its width such that when on the wearer it terminates with its lower side edges adjacent and encompassing the lowermost portions of the gluteus muscles at the sides of the thighs, said front panels having single thickness side portions and overlapping central portions with unconnected lower edges in crossed relation, said lower edges inclining upwardly in opposite directions from said lower side edges t extend, when on the wearer, around the front of the thighs at a rising angle, said rear panels also having overlapping central portions with unconnected lower edges in crossed relation, said last mentioned lower edges defining the lowermost rear portion of the garment and inclining upwardly from said opposite lower side edges of the body encircling member to follow, when on the wearer, the contour of the lowermost portions of the gluteus muscles around the rear portions of the thighs and just below the line of the buttocks, said front and rear panels forming the inner and outer surfaces of the garment and cooperating to provide an uplift action to said gluteus muscles without circumferential restriction in the lower portion of the thighs.

2. A girdle as called for in claim 1 wherein at least the lower portions of said front and rear panels are formed of a woven elastic material with the weave of the material being generally parallel to the lower edges of the panels, said elastic portions of the panel being readily stretchable in a direction generally parallel to said lower edges of the panel.

3. A girdle as called for in claim 1 wherein the outer vertical side edges of the front panels and the outer vertical side edges of the rear panels extend from top to bottom of the garment and are stitched together to form vertical seams at each side of the body encircling portion.

4-. A girdle as called for in claim 1 wherein said body encircling member includes a pair of side panels, the outer vertically extending edges of said front and rear panels being connected to the side edges of said side panels, said side panels being dimensioned such that when the garment is On the wearer the lower edges thereof lie approximately at the lower end portions of the gluteus muscles on the thighs of the wearer.

5 A girdle as called for in claim 2 wherein the lower edges of the front panels incline upwardly at an angle of at least 15 when on the wearer along a line extending from each side of the garment at the lower end portion of the gluteus muscles at the thighs to a front central portion adjacent the pubic region.

6. A muscle conforming girdle as called for in claim 1 wherein the upper ends of the lower edges of said front and rear panels terminate at points spaced inwardly of the side edges of the garment.

7. A muscle conforming girdle as called for in claim 6 wherein the lower edges of the overlapping back panels are disposed slightly below the lower edges of the overlapping front panels.

8. A muscle conforming girdle comprising a front portion and a rear portion connected together to form a body encircling garment, said portions forming the inner and outer surfaces of the garment, the rear portion including two side portions extending from the waist to the bottom of the garment at the sides and having overlapping sections at the bottom center, each overlapping section starting adjacent one side of the garment and terminating in a seam spaced inwardly from the opposite side of the garment and having a bottom edge slanting inwardly and upwardly and encompassing when on the wearer a substantial area of the lower portion of each buttock, said garment having a dimension from top to bottom substantially at least as great as its dimension from side to side, the front portion including two side sections extending from the waist to the bottom at the sides of the garment and being connected to the rear portion at the sides of the garment, the lower edges of the front portion extending from the lowermost outer edges of the back portion upwardly across the thighs, when on the wearer, to a height sufficient to enhance free movement of the thighs in a forwardly direction, the portions of the rear bottom edges of the garment which encompasses the buttocks being disposed lower than the lowest corresponding edges of the front portion of the garment.

9. A muscle conforming girdle comprising a front portion and a rear portion connected together to form a body encircling garment, said portions forming the inner and outer surfaces of the garment, the front and rear portions meeting at the opposite sides of the garment and extending at the sides, when on the wearer, downwardly beneath the gluteus maximus muscles, the front portion including two side sections extending from the waist to the bottom of the garment and having lower edges inclining upwardly and inwardly at an angle of at least fromthe meeting point to the center front of the garment as to enhance when on the wearer substantially free movement of the thighs in a forwardly direction, the rear portion including two panel sections having overlapping central portions with unconnected lower edges in crossed relation, each panel section starting adjacent one side of the garment and extending toward the opposite side of the garment and having a bottom edge forming the bottom portion of one half the garment and slanting inwardly and upwardly and encompassing when on the wearer a substantial area of the lower portion of each buttock, said garment having a dimension from top to bottom substantially at least as great as its dimension from side to side.

10. A girdle as called for in claim 9 wherein the inclined lower edges of the rear portion are disposed at a level slightly below the corresponding inclined lower edges of the front portion.

11. A muscle conforming girdle comprising a front portion and a rear portion connected together to form a body encircling garment, said portions forming the inner and outer surfaces of the garment, said rear portion having two panels, each panel having a side member extending from the waist to the bottom of the garment at the sides and having inwardly extending members overlapping and unconnected at the bottom center, each of the panels forming the rear portion extending from one side of the garment towards the opposite side of the garment and having a bottom edge slanting inwardly and upwardly and encompassing, when on the wearer, a substantial area of the lower portion of each buttock, the front portion including two side sections extending from the waist to the bottom at the sides of the garment and being connected to said rear portion at the sides of the garment, the lower edges of the front portion extending from the lowermost outer edges of the back portion upwardly across the thighs, when on the wearer, to a height sufficient to enhance free movement of the thighs in a forwardly direction, said garment having a dimension from top to bottom sub-stantially at least as great as its dimension from side to side.

12. A muse e conforming girdle comprising a front portion and a rear portion connected together to form a body encircling garment, said portions forming the inner and outer surfaces of the garment, the front and rear portions meeting at seams at the opposite sides of the garment and extending, when on the wearer, downwardly beneath the gluteus maximus muscles, said rear portion having two panels, each panel having a single thickness side member extending from the waist to the bottom of the garment at the sides and having inwardly extending members overlapping and unconnected at the bottom center, each of the panels forming the rear portion extending from one side of the garment towards the opposite side of the garment and having a bottom edge slanting inwardly and upwardly and encompassing, when on the wearer, a substantial area of the lower portion of each buttock, the front portion including two side sections extending from the waist to the bottom at the sides of the garment and being connected to said rear portion at the sides of the garment, the lower edges of the front portion extending from the lowermost outer edges of the back portion upwardly across the thighs, when on the wearer, to a height sufficient to enhance free movement of the thighs in a forwardly direction, said garment having a dimension from top to bottom substantially at least as great as its dimension from side to side.

13. A muscle conforming girdle comprising a front portion and a rear portion connected together to form a body encircling garment, said portions forming the inner and outer surfaces of the garment, said rear portion having two panels, each panel having a side member extending from the waist to the bottom of the garment at the sides and having inwardly extending members overlapping and unconnected at the bottom center, each of the panels forming the rear portion extending from one side of the garment towards the opposite side of the garment and having a bottom edge slanting inwardly and upwardly and encompassing, when on the wearer, a substantial area of the lower portion of each buttock, the extending end of each overlapping panel terminating in a seam spaced inwardly from the opposite side of the garment, the front portion including two side sections extending from the waist to the bottom at the sides of the garment and being connected to said rear portion at the sides of the garment, the lower edges of the front portion extending from the lowermost outer edges of the back portion upwardly across the thighs, when on the wearer, to a height sufiicient to enhance free movement of the thighs in a forwardly direction, said garment having a dimension from top to bottom substantially at least as great as its dimension from side to side.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,927,357 Borneman Sept. 19, 1933 2,397,211 Schubert Mar. 26, 1946 2,640,196 Gould June 2, 1953 2,757,379 Stone ct a1. Aug. 7, 1956 2,775,767 Gould Jan. 1, 1957 

